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MSc Neurology for Clinical Trainees

Programme Directors
Professor Simon Shorvon and Dr Caroline Selai. UCL Institute of Neurology

Clinical Neurology is an exciting, complex and fast moving field. It is an academically challenging subject for clinical trainees, not least due to the many advances in genetics, physiology, imaging and therapy which have transformed the subject in the past few decades. This is a unique MSc programme, with no equivalent in the UK or abroad. It is designed for those pursuing a professional career in the UK in clinical neurology or related disciplines, either as a clinical academic or a clinician. It is open to candidates with a medical degree, MRCP and who already have a national training number in neurology, neurophysiology, psychiatry or related disciplines. It aims to provide trainees with a thorough grounding in the practice of modern neurology, and in the scientific underpinnings of the subject. The course will help prepare trainees for their future consultant positions, and clinical and research careers in neurology. The course is run in conjunction with the London STC in neurology. The course includes a research project and seminars on thesis writing skills, both of which will provide a grounding for future research work. The course will be of benefit to applicants CVs, job prospects and future careers, and will enhance the standard of neurological practice in Britain.

Course outcomes

At the end of the course, the participants should have achieved a broad knowledge of the clinical features and scientific basis of the broad range of neurological areas/disorders. This will provide the student with:

  • Clinical competence in diagnosis,investigation and formulation of management plan and therapeutics in these neurological areas/disorders
  • A working knowledge of the scientific basis of these neurological disorders/areas
  • Awareness of major recent developments in research in clinical neuroscience.
  • Generic competences as defined in the national clinical curriculum
Course Structure

180 M-level credits are required for the award of the MSc, and are made up from:

  1. A course of academic lectures (4 15 credit modules - Academic Lecture Component 1-4, CLNEG044, 45, 46 & 47). These will be held once a month over a 2-year cycle and will cover the whole of the Clinical Neurology curriculum (these lectures are held all day on a Wednesday, and day-release will be required from clinical duties on that day; this is already automatically awarded to London Neurology Trainees)
  2. Research training: CLNEG023 (15 credits). This covers basic aspects of research methodology and statistics (the research training sessions will be held on Wednesdays after the academic lectures).
  3. Research Project: CLNEG098 (60 credits). This can be completed at any time during the MSc
  4. All those holding the MRCP (or equivalent) will receive 45 credits in recognition of the prior learning acquired.
Academic lecture course

This covers the following topics:

  • Nerve, muscle and motor neuron disease
  • Cranial nerves
  • Epilepsy
  • Sleep neurology
  • Pain
  • Movement disorders and Parkinson’s Disease
  • Neuro-otology
  • Neuro-ophthalmology
  • Cerebrovascular disease
  • Neuropsychiatry
  • Dementia and cognition
  • Neurological Infections
  • Multple sclerosis, vasculitis and neuroimmunology
  • Autonomic function
  • Metabolic and toxic neurology
  • Disorders of consciousness
  • Neuro-urology
  • Neuro-oncology
  • ITU neurology
  • Trauma and head injury
  • Spine and spinal injury
  • Neuro-rehabilitation
  • CSF disorders;
  • Neurological aspects of neurosurgery

The assessments will be via essays, online MCQ and a research dissertation (10,000 words).

To view the expected learning outcomes for each topic please click here.

Please note: Titles of lectures may change from year to year

The Research Project

This can comprise any clinical project (including literature reviews) and can be carried out at the UCL Institute of Neurology or the trainee’s home institution. Each trainee will have an individual research supervisor, with supervision tailored to specific needs. It is hoped that many of the research dissertations will form the basis of a publication. The supervisors will be drawn from the academic staff at UCL Institute of Neurology, Kings and Imperial and the other London academic neurology centres.

Course Resources

Students will have full access to the extensive online and library resources of the Libraries at Queen Square and UCL.

Entry requirements

The MSc is open to any applicant who holds a national training number in neurology, neurophysiology, psychiatry or other related discipline, and who has an MRCP or equivalent professional body membership.

Course Venue

The lectures and research training sessions are delivered at the UCL Institute of Neurology (National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery) at Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG.

Duration of the Programme

This is a part time MSc which can be taken at any point in the SpR training. The course has a flexible module-based structure which can be completed over a 2–4 year period.

When to apply

Applications are accepted at anytime throughout the year, as the course has a flexible structure. The candidate can start the course in September.

An application pack is available from the UCL Institute of Neurology Education Unit ion.educationunit [at] ucl.ac.uk

Information on all our courses can be found here:www.ion.ucl.ac.uk/education

The UCL Institute of Neurology promotes teaching and research of the highest quality in neurology and the neurosciences. The Institute of Neurology and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery are members of  UCL Partners, Europe's largest academic health science partnership.